Realty Services Specialist

**Basic Function**:
To ensure the responsible management and administration of land (real property) matters, including but not limited to such activities as administration of property rights, land acquisition, disposition of surplus properties, lease/license agreements, easement agreements, perform title searching and information retrieval, conduct road/lane closures, provide direction with encroachment agreements, and legal document preparation and registration on title. This position will have the County’s Land Monetization project as its focus.

**Position Description**:

- Assist with the coordination and management of the realty services program for the corporation by coordinating activities in the various areas.
- Complete the disposition of surplus lands with the goal of maximizing value to the County.
- Negotiate the acquisition of real property interests including direct contact with all involved parties/owners, realtors, solicitors, etc.
- Receive and respond to inquiries received from the general public, lawyers, real estate agents, County departments, utilities, authorities, school boards, provincial agencies by researching, investigating, analyzing and resolving property matters, and facilitate efficient and positive working relationships.
- Assign, manage and coordinate outside resources (real estate and legal professionals, appraisers, surveyors, etc.) to complete required activities and meet specified deadlines.
- Request, review and interpret real property appraisals and their approaches and where necessary request revisions or updates in order to establish valuations for property acquisitions, disposals and lease rental rates.
- Assist in the review, preparation and registration of documents such as Bylaws, Easement Agreements, Transfers, Encroachment Agreements, Site Plan Agreements under the Land Titles Act and Land Registry Act in electronic format or paper format as required.
- Retrieve, review and interpret property information including PIN printouts, registered documents, confirmation of accuracy of legal descriptions (by reference plan and metes and bounds), review Teraview mapping, deposited reference plans, registered subdivision plans, highway widening and expropriation plans.
- Identify and resolve discrepancies and deficiencies of title in consultation with the Land Registry Access system.
- Conduct business and corporate searches as required.
- Circulate notices for surplus lands in accordance with the County’s policies and procedures in accordance with the _Municipal Act._
- Coordinate and negotiate temporary or permanent easements, permissions to enter, temporary use agreements, extensions to/or renewal of existing contractual covenants.
- Understand and interpret engineering drawings, draft survey plans and registered survey plans as they relate to real property easements, acquisitions, dispositions, etc.
- Provide advice and guidance to departments on realty services policies and procedures.
- Prepare and present written or verbal reports, statistical information, policies and procedures and/or recommendations to General Managers, Directors/Managers, staff, Council, external agencies and the public as required.
- Liaise with other municipalities and land (real property) associations to exchange beneficial knowledge and information on new and upcoming issues, innovations and trends.
- Participate in corporate, divisional and departmental teams as a representative for realty services.
- Perform other related duties as required.

**Requirements**:
**Knowledge and Experience**:

- Community College Diploma relative to the area of responsibility (for example, Law Clerk, Paralegal, Real Estate, Real Estate Appraisal).
- Plus up to 5 years current related work experience which may include additional specialty training such as land titles, land registry, conveyancing, appraisals, surveying and property assessment.
- Membership with the International Right of Way Association (IRWA) or qualifications leading to such a designation would be considered an asset.
- Experience in a municipal environment would be an asset.

**Skills and Abilities**:

- Sound technical knowledge of the principles, practices and procedures of:

- Various provincial statues including the _Municipal Act, Land Titles Act_, _Registry Act_ and _Planning Act_;
- Ontario Land Registry System including document registration;
- road closures and conveyances, legal matters, surveys, planning documents, engineering drawings and methods as they relate to municipal property matters.
- Investigative skills to scrutinize and interpret property PINs and abstracts, reference plans, expropriation plans, assumption plans and other plans, metes and bounds descriptions, documents and sketches for the purposes of plotting property boundaries, rights of way and easements to determine registered ownership and what documents (i.e., deeds, quit claims, mortgages, easements, notices of claim) are pertinent.
- Excellent research,